Answered Prayers by Cindy Johnson (Alabama, USA)

Today's Reading

Psalm 66:16-20

Thought for the Day

God answers my prayers, though sometimes in unexpected ways.

Prayer Focus

Those looking for a job

As the caller told me I did not get the teaching job, I felt discouraged and forgotten. My two young children attended the school and the principal knew me well, so I had been confident I would be hired. I had also prayed continually about this for several days. I felt like God had not heard my prayers. Did God even care?

For three months I cried out to God, asking why my prayer wasn’t answered. Then in October, after the school year had already started, I got a call from the principal of the school asking me to teach second grade. The school had an overflow of second graders, and they were creating a new class. I took the job.

As the year progressed, I realized God had heard me after all. God had answered my prayer — just not how or when I had expected. God doesn’t always give us what we want. But if we wait and trust, God will give us what we need. My first year of teaching was a blessing. Second grade was the perfect class for me, and God knew it was what I needed. Since then I have learned to listen, trust, and wait on God’s answers.

Today's Prayer

Dear God, thank you for listening to and answering our prayers. You know what we need before we utter a word. You love us and want us to prosper. Help us to trust in you always. Amen.